2 Corinthians 11 · Verse 22

2 Corinthians 11:22

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
2 Corinthians 11:22, King James Version

2 Corinthians 11:22 in other translations

BSBAre they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
WEBAre they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I.
ASVAre they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
YLTHebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!
DARBYAre they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they seed of Abraham? I also.
BBEAre they Hebrews? so am I. Are they of Israel? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
WebsterAre they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? so am I.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. Hebrews ... Israelites ... the seed of Abraham--A climax. "Hebrews," referring to the language and nationality; "Israelites," to the theocracy and descent from Israel, the "prince who prevailed with God" (Ro 9:4); "the seed of Abraham," to the claim to a share in the Messiah (Ro 11:1; 9:7). Compare Php 3:5, "An Hebrew of the Hebrews," not an Hellenist or Greek-speaking Jew, but a Hebrew in tongue, and sprung from Hebrews.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. Are they Hebrews? This proves that the persons who had made the difficulty in Corinth were those who were of Hebrew extraction, though it may be that they had been born in Greece, and had been educated in the Grecian philosophy and art of rhetoric. It is also clear that they prided themselves on being Jews--on having a connexion with the people and land from whence the religion which the Corinthian church now professed had emanated. Indications are apparent everywhere in the New Testament of the superiority which the Jewish converts to Christianity claimed over those converted from among the heathen. Their boast would probably be that they were the descendants of the patriarchs; that the land of the prophets was theirs; that they spake the language in which the oracles of God were given; that the true religion had proceeded from them, etc.

So am I. I have as high claims as any of them to distinction on this head. Paul had all their advantages of birth. He was an Israelite; of the honoured tribe of Benjamin; a Pharisee; circumcised at the usual time, Php 3:5 and educated in the best manner at the feet of one of their most eminent teachers, Acts 22:3.

Are they Israelites? Another name, signifying substantially the same thing. The only difference is, that the word "Hebrew" signified, properly, one who was from beyond (, from , to pass, to pass over--hence applied to Abraham, because he had come from a foreign land; and the word denoted, properly, a foreigner--a man from the land or country beyond, ) the Euphrates. The name Israelite denoted, properly, one descended from Israel or Jacob; and the difference between them was, that the name Israelite, being a patronymic derived from one of the founders of their nation, was in use among themselves; the name Hebrew was applied by the Canaanite to them as having come from beyond the river, and was the current name among foreign tribes and nations. See Gesenius' Lexicon on the word () Hebrew. Paul, in the passage before us, means to say that he had as good a claim to the honour of being a native-born descendant of Israel as could be urged by any of them.

Are they the seed of Abraham? Do they boast that they are descended from Abraham. This, with all the Jews, was regarded as a distinguished honour, (see Mt 3:9, Jn 8:39;) and no doubt the false teachers in Corinth boasted of it as eminently qualifying them to engage in the work of the ministry.

So am I. Paul had the same qualification. He was a Jew also by birth. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, Php 3:5.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Are they Hebrews - Speaking the sacred language, and reading in the congregation from the Hebrew Scriptures? the same is my own language. Are they Israelites - Regularly descended from Jacob, and not from Esau? I am also one. Are they the seed of Abraham - Circumcised, and in the bond of the covenant? So am I. I am no proselyte, but I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews both by father and mother; and can trace my genealogy, through the tribe of Benjamin, up to the father of the faithful.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:22-33
The apostle gives an account of his labours and sufferings; not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honour of God, who enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ; and shows wherein he excelled the false apostles, who tried to lessen his character and usefulness. It astonishes us to reflect on this account of his dangers, hardships, and sufferings, and to observe his patience, perseverance, diligence, cheerfulness, and usefulness, in the midst of all these trials. See what little reason we have to love the pomp and plenty of this world, when this blessed apostle felt so much hardship in it. Our utmost diligence and services appear unworthy of notice when compared with his, and our difficulties and trials scarcely can be perceived. It may well lead us to inquire whether or not we really are followers of Christ. Here we may study patience, courage, and firm trust in God. Here we may learn to think less of ourselves; and we should ever strictly keep to truth, as in God's presence; and should refer all to his glory, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Corinthians 11:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἙβραῖοίHebraioiHebrewsG1445
εἰσιν;eisinare they?G1510
κἀγώ·kagōI myself also;G1473
ἸσραηλῖταίIsraēlitaiIsraelitesG2475
εἰσιν;eisinare they?G1510
κἀγώ·kagōI myself also;G1473
σπέρμαspermaDescendantsG4690
ἈβραάμAbraamof AbrahamG11
εἰσιν;eisinare they?G1510
κἀγώ·kagōI myself also;G1473

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 11:22

  • Philippians 3:5

    Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

  • Romans 11:1

    I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

  • Romans 9:4

    Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

  • Exodus 7:16

    And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

  • Exodus 9:13

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

  • Acts 22:3

    I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

  • Exodus 10:3

    And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

  • Exodus 9:1

    Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

  • John 8:33-39

    They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. …

  • 2 Chronicles 20:7

    Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

  • Matthew 3:9

    And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  • Exodus 5:3

    And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Hebrews.
Ex 3:18; 5:3; 7:16; 9:1,13; 10:3; Ac 22:3; Ro 11:1; Php 3:5
the seed.
Ge 17:8,9; 2Ch 20:7; Mt 3:9; Joh 8:33-39; Ro 4:13-18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 11:21

    I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:22

    Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Son Hebreos? yo también. ¿Son Israelitas? yo también. ¿Son simiente de Abraham? también yo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Sont-ils Hébreux? – moi aussi. Sont-ils Israélites? – moi aussi. Sont-ils la semence d’Abraham? – moi aussi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sind sie Hebräer? ich auch. Sind sie Israeliten? ich auch. Sind sie Abrahams Same? ich auch.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hebræi sunt, et ego: Israëlitæ sunt, et ego: semen Abrahæ sunt, et ego.